Networking Your Way to Great Relationships," Generation Putnam, Hurricane, WV

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"Networking Your Way to Great Relationships," Generation Putnam, Hurricane, WV

Transcript of Networking Your Way to Great Relationships," Generation Putnam, Hurricane, WV

Networking Your Way to Great RelationshipsGeneration PutnamGeneration PutnamAugust 17, 2012

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

Presenter

B i J MBrian J. Moore(304) 357-9905 brian.moore@dinsmore.comwww wvlaborandemploymentlaw comwww.wvlaborandemploymentlaw.comwww.kylaborandemploymentlaw.comwww.linkedin.com/in/brianmoorelawyerwww facebook com/bmoorewvuwww.facebook.com/bmoorewvu@bmoorewvu

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

We will be covering:

I N t ki B iI. Networking Basics

II. Building Your Business: Networking ith Pwith a Purpose

III. Keeping Your Business: The Once and F t N t kFuture Networker

IV. Networking With Social Media

V. Helpful Networking Tips

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

I. Networking BasicsI. Networking Basics

What is Networking?g- In today’s business world, relationships are

everything.

- Establishing those relationships takes time, effort and above all else, commitment.and above all else, commitment.

- Networking, for our purposes, can be defined as: the establishment and/or fostering of personal connections in the context of a business relationship.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

relationship.

I. Networking BasicsI. Networking Basics

Where Does Networking Happen?Where Does Networking Happen?“External” Networking:- Everywhere!- Everywhere!- Examples: Dinners, Fundraisers, Board

Meetings Civic Events Cocktail Parties etcMeetings, Civic Events, Cocktail Parties, etc. “Internal” Networking:- Marketing yourself to co-workers- Marketing yourself to co-workers.- Being the go-to person.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

I. Networking BasicsI. Networking Basics

How Can Networking Help Me?How Can Networking Help Me?- Growing your business.- Retaining your business- Retaining your business.- Climbing the ladder.

Creating friendships- Creating friendships.

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

- When starting out, networking can be aWhen starting out, networking can be a daunting task.

- Most people feel overwhelmed by the proposition of meeting new people, spending p p g p p , p gtime in strange environments and speaking with people who might not otherwise be in their “ ”“peer” group.

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

Planning: Before heading off to your first socialPlanning: Before heading off to your first social event, consider the following:

1. Defining Your Market:- What is my product or service?y p- Who buys my product or service?- Why do they buy it?

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

2. Using Existing Connections:2. Using Existing Connections:- Who do I know and how can that help me?- Family- Family- Friends

Other Networks (High School Undergrad etc )- Other Networks (High School, Undergrad, etc.)

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

3. Establishing Your “Brand”:3. Establishing Your Brand :- What are my skills?- How do my skills relate to my profession?- How do my skills relate to my profession? - Can I be the go-to person?

Example: Social NetworkingExample: Social Networking

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

Implementation: Once you have establishedImplementation: Once you have established your market, connections and brand, how do you use these skills to grow your network and get business?

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

1. Become an Expert:1. Become an Expert:- The first step to being able to carry on a conversation and sell your services or products is to know what you are selling.- Always be able to answer questions about your field products interactions and businessfield, products, interactions and business.-Being knowledgeable, without being pretentious, will impress potential business associates.

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

2. Embrace the Experience:2. Embrace the Experience:- Most people feel awkward walking into new situations.- Find some common ground with your audience- “Mix” at the Mixer.- Use your knowledge to impress potential Use you o edge to p ess pote t aclients and connections.- Be interesting!!! Don’t be Plain Vanilla

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g

II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

3. Give a Little to Get a Lot:3. Give a Little to Get a Lot:- Meals provide excellent networking opportunitiespp- People Rarely Turn Down a Free Meal- 21 opportunities in a week21 opportunities in a week.- Everyone has to eat!

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

4. Service with a Smile:4. Service with a Smile:- Service for non-profit organizations. - Board Memberships- Board Memberships.- Volunteer Activities (Get your hands dirty!).

Service as an aspect of your “brand ”- Service as an aspect of your brand.

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

5. Authenticity Matters:5. Authenticity Matters:- Do what you enjoy.- Enthusiasm is vital to success in networking- Enthusiasm is vital to success in networking.- A genuine interest will pay dividends.

Handshakes Names and Eye Contact: Show- Handshakes, Names and Eye Contact: Show people that you care!

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II. Building Your Business: Networking With Pa Purpose

6. Follow Up and Follow Through:6. Follow Up and Follow Through:- After establishing new connections, solidify them by following up.y g p- Email, Phone Calls, or other types of communication can help to establish a lasting p gconnection.- Primacy: Following up quickly can help others remember you.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

III. Keeping Your Business: The Once and F t N t kFuture Networker

- Once your network is established, maintainingOnce your network is established, maintaining it and the relationships associated with it can be just important as forming new relationships.

-Complacency can be the death-nail to a p ysuccessful network of relationships.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

III. Keeping Your Business: The Once and F t N t kFuture Networker

The following steps can help you maintain yourThe following steps can help you maintain your relationships:

1. Keep Your Sources in the Loop:- Newsletters blogs and email lists updatingNewsletters, blogs, and email lists updating your network of your activities.- “Thank you” lunches for referral sources. a you u c es o e e a sou ces- Cross-referrals

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III. Keeping Your Business: The Once and F t N t kFuture Networker

2. Keep Your Knowledge Up-to-date:2. Keep Your Knowledge Up to date:- Attend conferences in your discipline (additional networking opportunity). ( g pp y)- Keep apprised of developments in your client’s business matters.- Learn what your contacts are up to.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

III. Keeping Your Business: The Once and F t N t kFuture Networker

3. Maintain Your Team:3. Maintain Your Team:- Maintaining a helpful team around you can be one of

the most important aspects to keeping business.- Treat those in your network (and others) well, they

are vital to your success in business.Competency is a must- Competency is a must.

- Example: “Full Service” law firms.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

IV. Networking with Social MediaIV. Networking with Social Media

- In the current business climate, social mediaIn the current business climate, social media has vaulted to the forefront of networking.

-Instead of asking for a card, people commonly ask, “are you on Facebook/Twitter/etc.?”, y

-Social media can provide another helpful tool to Soc a ed a ca p o de a ot e e p u too toany successful networker.

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IV. Networking with Social MediaIV. Networking with Social Media

Facebook:Facebook:- Creating a “page.”- Establishing a professional Facebook- Establishing a professional Facebook.- Grooming your digital footprint.

Determining the effect of Facebook networking- Determining the effect of Facebook networking.

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IV. Networking with Social MediaIV. Networking with Social Media

Twitter:Twitter:- 140 Characters- Great tool for updating clients and contacts on- Great tool for updating clients and contacts on

recent activities- “Lists”Lists- A Twitter account can act as an

excellent marketing toolexcellent marketing tool.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

IV. Networking with Social MediaIV. Networking with Social Media

Linkedin:Linkedin:- The “professional” social media platform.- Helps potential clients determine experience- Helps potential clients determine experience.- Provides a place where contacts can refer

potential clientspotential clients.- Independent networking opportunity: the

“Linkedin Network.”ed et o

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V. Helpful Networking Tips: 5 Tips to Build d S t i Y B i C tiand Sustain Your Business Connections

1. Define Your Market and Your Brand.1. Define Your Market and Your Brand.2. Use Established Connections. 3 Follow Up!3. Follow Up!4. Be an Effective “Brander.” 5 Learn to Play the Game5. Learn to Play the Game.

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com

Questions?

B i J MBrian J. Moore(304) 357-9905 brian.moore@dinsmore.com

© 2012 DINSMORE & SHOHL | LEGAL COUNSEL | www.dinsmore.com